Truman State cutting some sports programs

Truman State University has decided to discontinue its men’s golf program following the spring season and will no longer offer future athletic scholarships for the sports of men’s tennis, men’s swimming, wrestling and baseball.

These cost cutting measures are a result of continued state budget pressure and a comprehensive review of Truman’s athletic program by an Intercollegiate Athletics Task Force appointed by President Troy Paino in October.

“This difficult decision is based upon the economic reality facing the University,” said Athletics Director Jerry Wollmering. “We received a 5.2 percent reduction in state funding this year, and anticipate at least a seven percent cut for next year. This translates into fewer resources to effectively operate all our programs. As fixed costs also rise, such as insurance and travel, we can no longer provide adequate resources for 21 intercollegiate sports programs.”

Men’s golf has been an intercollegiate sport at the University since 1933. The program is currently directed by Jim Berrey and Tyler Madsen on a part-time basis. The team has a roster of 11 players, and typically five players compete in meets. Both Berrey and Madsen are employed full-time with Farm Bureau and Truman, respectively.

In addition, the University will phase out University-funded athletic scholarships in the sports of men’s tennis, men’s swimming, wrestling and baseball. Scholarships currently awarded to athletes on these teams will be honored as long as these students remain on the squad. Any athletic aid offered to future incoming players must come from private donations through the Truman State University Foundation. Athletes competing in these sports will continue to be offered merit-based aid. Currently, the University awards over $200,000 in academic scholarships to student-athletes from those sports.

Even with the program elimination, Truman will continue to sponsor 20 sports, the most of any public university in Missouri, and well above the NCAA Division II average of 14.3 sports. The average of all NCAA institutions, regardless of division, is 17.